ARCADIA by JOHN GAY

The sun was now withdrawn,
The shepherds home were sped;
The moon wide o'er the lawn
Her silver mantle spread;
When Damon stay'd behind,
And saunter'd in the grove.
Will ne'er a nymph be kind,
And give me love for love?

Oh! those were golden hours,
When Love, devoid of cares,
In all Arcadia's bow'rs
Lodg'd swains and nymphs by pairs!
But now from wood and plain
Flys ev'ry sprightly lass,
No joys for me remain,
In shades, or on the grass.

The winged boy draws near,
And thus the swain reproves.
While beauty revell'd here,
My game lay in the groves;
At Court I never fail
To scatter round my arrows,
Men fall as thick as hail;
And maidens love like sparrows.

Then, swain, if me you need,
Strait lay your sheep-hook down;
Throw by your oaten reed,
And haste away to town.
So well I'm known at Court,
None asks where Cupid dwells;
But readily resort
To B-----n's or L----ll's.

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